Tuesday, March 4, 2008

"Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!"I never realized how tough being a parent was going to be. I knew these little ones of mine were not going to arrive with an owners manual in hand and an on/off button to push whenever I was done playing mommy but I tell you I did not have a clue what I was in for. The sleep I willingly loose to wrestling with myself over decisions that probably will not make a whole lot of difference. I think I am in for it some day. My most recent development is Max. I have been so torn and twisted about how to proceed with his education. The problem. . . his birthday just barely misses the deadline. Silly deadline?!? Last year he attended preschool. He loved everything about preschool. He wanted to go to school every day and he excelled very quickly. We thought why not kindergarten. . he is a bright kid with a strong desire to learn, plus all his friends are going to school. This past September Tim and I put Max in a little Private kindergarten. The first half of the year he still could not get enough of school. Loved Loved Loved it. Just recently I hear repeatedly, "I don't want to go to school." "School is so boring." "I don't want to read. " The list of dislikes towards school goes on and on. It breaks my little mommy heart that he has developed such a distaste for school especially when he loves learning so much. Now on to the decision part. I have been going back and forth between Kindergarten and first grade. My thoughts on Kindergarten have been . . .Will he be too far ahead?.. . .Will he get bored? . . .Will it be a waste of time? And then there is first grade. . . Will he be the youngest?. . . Will first grade be too much for him? . . .Will he continue to dislike school? What about High School? Well the bottom line is that I have been so unsettled about both decisions. I have been flipping back and forth. . . one day I am sure the right decisions is kindergarten ~ the next day it's first grade. I feel so silly that this decision has been so difficult for me to find some sort of peace. Anyways, my heart has been telling me that maybe neither decision is the correct one for Max. So I am looking into other options for him. Who knows we just might have a home schooler in our future?!?!? I know - I know home school? When I was growing up there was this stigma that came along with home schooled kids. It seems like homeschooling has come a long way. I honestly just can't watch Max's love for learning die in a system and style that does not allow him to excel. Nothing is set in stone but the one thing I am certain about is that sometimes making decisions as a parent is one tough job. . . .

7 comments:

I hear you. We are homeschooling Mr. T next year, though Miss J will stay in the public school for 2nd grade. Some of our family just don't get this. I really feel that you have to do what is best for your child, you and your family. Sometimes it's just hard to figure out. Good luck with the big decisions.

I understand all this. People told me over and over that Brayden was ready for K, but we decided to wait till he was 6 because he would have been a young 5. He's done great and has excelled, he's in a gifted program now actually. On the otherhand, we started Saydria at 5 and it took her some getting used to K. She was very "social" if you will. I hope you don't stress yourself out too much over the decision and keep having fun and taking lots of cute pics in the meantime. :)

I'm with ya.. decisions are tough when you're a parent. Although we're not at the same stage with our kids, I can definitely relate. And you're telling me it doesn't get any easier! :) Ha.. oh well. Part of being a mom I guess! :) And yes...I think it would be way fun to take a photography class!!! If you have details, I'd love to hear them.

I hear ya. It's a toughy. Both the ladies were 5 just in the knick of time to get into Kindergarten BUT tht does mean some of thier classmates are a full year older than them. At times its no big deal and at other times I can see that the "older" the child the easier the concept is grasped. Good luck.

This is a huge decision - I think you are such a good mom to look at all the options. I know you will pick what is best for Max. BTW you would be a wonderful homeschool teacher!! I'm excited to see what you choose.

Sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now...Brooklynn was the same way, it's reminds me of when she was his age so much. She absolutely LOVED to learn and go to preschool and all of a sudden in Kindergarten the passion and desire stopped. She would say the same things I hate school, I don't want to go to school, it's boring...everything you mentioned about Max. But I just kept her going and kept reasurring her this is a good place to be learning is fun you know all the positive reinforcements...So today she's in 1st grade and she's still up and down about school some days she loves it and other's she doesn't but let me tell you she has excelled tremendously, it's amazing. Her reading has takin off in just these past months and her math is awesome where it used to stuggle so I guess what I'm getting at is don't give up whatever your decision there is light at the end of the tunnel. I personally am not a homeschooler mommy but that's me and I am so thankful that she is taking off b/c I was starting to worry. But just so you know my sister is considering home schooling her soon to be adoptive kids when she gets them in a few months and is awesome at advice so if you want you can contact her and see what she's learned or decided she's so easy to talk to and so smart! Anyway just thought I should let you know that and hope your decision get's easier soon! her blog site is http://www.arhappenings.com/ just incase! Good luck!